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What are Home Remedies for Nausea?

Sally Foster
Sally Foster
Sally Foster
Sally Foster

People experience nausea for a number of reasons. Indigestion, food poisoning, the stomach flu, and pregnancy are all common situations that can induce stomach upset. Whatever its cause, nausea is a very unpleasant experience, but it can usually be treated safely and easily at home.

One of the best and oldest home remedies for nausea is ginger. Eating a small piece of fresh or pickled ginger usually helps calm an upset stomach. Additionally, ginger tea can be made by boiling fresh ginger in water and adding honey or milk as desired.

Yogurt contains acidophilus, which can help prevent nausea.
Yogurt contains acidophilus, which can help prevent nausea.

If nausea is caused by food poisoning, it is important to neutralize the poison in order to heal. Charcoal tablets, which can be bought in most health food stores, are very efficient for absorbing harmful agents. In cases that involve vomiting, it is important to take the charcoal tablets just after vomiting to ensure their absorption.

Carbonated beverages such as soda are frequently used to suppress morning sickness or nausea associated with stomach flu. It is important to sip slowly in order to avoid further upsetting the stomach. In addition, saltine crackers are often effective for settling the stomach.

Mint is a soothing herb which can help calm and settle the stomach. Peppermint or spearmint tea can be very effective in soothing nausea. Peppermint oil can also be used as an aromatherapeutic cure.

Fresh ginger can help relieve nausea.
Fresh ginger can help relieve nausea.

Another old home remedy for nausea is lemon. In some cases, merely smelling a freshly cut lemon can be helpful. Lemon juice mixed into warm water and sipped slowly works as well. Other warm liquids, such as broth, warm milk or tea, can also help to calm the stomach.

People who suffer from frequent nausea due to indigestion may find that one of the best "home remedies" is to avoid foods and situations that upset the stomach. Often, the best way to do this is to eat well-balanced meals and include pineapple, papaya, and acidophilus — a friendly bacteria found in yogurt — in the diet. These people may want to avoid dairy products, processed foods, and beans. Lastly, they should eat slowly and chew thoroughly to ensure proper digestion.

Sally Foster
Sally Foster

Sarah is a freelance writer living in Istanbul, Turkey, where she has taught numerous English language courses and runs a blog focusing on the expat community. Since joining the WiseGEEK team several years ago, Sarah has become a veritable fount of knowledge on many obscure topics. She has a B. A from the University of Oregon, where she majored in Romance Languages (Spanish and Italian) and Linguistics and an M.A. in TESOL from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.

Learn more...
Sally Foster
Sally Foster

Sarah is a freelance writer living in Istanbul, Turkey, where she has taught numerous English language courses and runs a blog focusing on the expat community. Since joining the WiseGEEK team several years ago, Sarah has become a veritable fount of knowledge on many obscure topics. She has a B. A from the University of Oregon, where she majored in Romance Languages (Spanish and Italian) and Linguistics and an M.A. in TESOL from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.

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Discussion Comments

anon946069

What about nausea caused by being overheated? I find that a cool shower relieves it temporarily, but once my stomach gets even a little bit warm, the nausea comes back. Any advice?

anon939309

Reading the quran may help. There is only one God/creator (Allah) and Jesus and Moses and Adam and Abraham all the way to Muhammad are his messengers.

anon284994

Salt water also works well but down it quickly. It doesn't taste so good.

anon136115

Ginger ale works, alcohol inhalation is hit or miss. Best is Zofran. I've had to deal with more nausea and headaches then most people due to the rare diseases/conditions i have.

Best thing to do is vomit and go to bed or just sit in the same area and not move, because once you start moving it usually gets worse, or at least for me.

Stick with liquids, don't even bother with solids. I have celiac, mastocytosis, migraines, reflux, angioedema, and gastroparesis so nausea is an everyday occurrence if i do not have my medicine.

anon83755

Isopropyl rubbing alcohol (the pre-injection sterilizing wipes work well - otherwise a cotton ball, kleenex, etc.). You don't need to inhale deeply (and if you try to snort it then nausea is the least of your problems). Just brush the wipe/cotton under the nose and dab the upper lip.

For mild to moderate nausea, it will work almost instantaneously and in best cases acts like a shutdown switch. Anything above moderate nausea will take more effort (ie. additional remedies - I couldn't find weed at the local pharmacy and when I asked the employees about it, they would stare and drool in silence or laugh and snort; I was even shown a large middle finger in one case).

Also have noticed that if the alcohol doesn't work within a few secs, it probably won't work much at all. I get nausea with migraines, with and without aura, a few times a month. Popsicles work well for me personally but I've heard it's the sweetness (but a doc advised once that sugar added to an upset stomach will cause either death, or may increase the acidity levels). Honey or corn syrup sometimes works well when the local govt decides to ban cannabis (Emetrex is basically fructose sold at a psychotic price level).

Cold soda pop is also nice if your goal is to intentionally purge in an attempt to end the suffering: regurgitating still-cold 7Up is a lot better than dry heaving yourself into another embarrassing crapped-in-the-pants situation.

Any remedies for Carpal Tunnel? (long post...)

anon65981

Marijuana would be nice if i could find some that wasn't dirt, which doesn't help nausea at all, freaking sick twisted government! I have such bad nausea and can't even find any hydro to ease the pain! This is like denying someone their aids or cancer treatment.

anon64254

Bastien: I vomited twice early this morning. Luckily my family was there for cleaning and moral support. However, I have been experiencing these chill spells, uncomfortable stomach pain and twist, frequent diarrhea, and vomiting spells that make me lose my bearings completely.

I don't know if it is something I got in some water from Haiti, the tuna sandwich I had, the stomach cramps I have been experiencing or what. But the lemon water is about all I could down. Let hope I can make it through the morning without going to the ER.

anon63350

eft sounds like a scientology-type scam. ginger usually works for me. i'm going to try that.

anon56663

I don't know what i have, but my gut feels terrible. I threw up once yesterday and i might take one hit of pot to reduce this feeling but not enough to get high.

i might experiment and will reply again. i never smoke when i'm sick or not feeling good, but might try it.

anon54680

Well, if you have nausea, pot is really good to get well.

anon51100

I also have to say that I believe that marijuana is the best nausea cure that there is out there. It's a miracle drug. Really, it is. I, too was on chemo and it helped immensely. Even the worst days I had were cured just by one hit of the stuff. Really, just try it.

anon46849

Marijuana works the best.

anon46159

I normally have nausea due to bladder infection. I've not been to the doctor and when reading your remedies, had a good chew on some fresh ginger. Well, I'm sure the nausea disappeared because I concentrated on the strong ginger taste. It worked for now.

anon39262

i went to new york recently and came back really sick so i went to the er and they said i had gastritis. so it finally went away but its back and i have nausea constantly i take tums acid reduces ever medicine the er doctor gave me but nothing helps and its been like this for like 3 days.

kasoren76

My nausea and gas is from chemo, any suggestions?

anon11020

I found that EFT worked for me. I got a book about it online. Didn't think it would work, but i felt sooo much better it was amazing.

somerset

For nausea caused by stomach flu I have found 7-Up to be helpful. You might want to let it sit in a glass first so it is not too cold, and some of the carbonation is lost. Of course you have to start with very small amounts, something like a teaspoonful every now and then. Just wetting the lips is sufficient to test if the stomach is strong enough to hold it. Once stomach stabilizes a little bit of plain toast is helpful too. What is good to remember is just to start intake in a very small, baby like steps.

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    • Yogurt contains acidophilus, which can help prevent nausea.
      By: creative soul
      Yogurt contains acidophilus, which can help prevent nausea.
    • Fresh ginger can help relieve nausea.
      By: keko64
      Fresh ginger can help relieve nausea.
    • Charcoal tablets should be taken to absorb harmful agents.
      By: elen_studio
      Charcoal tablets should be taken to absorb harmful agents.
    • Eating papaya on a regular basis can help those who suffer from digestion-related nausea.
      By: tashka2000
      Eating papaya on a regular basis can help those who suffer from digestion-related nausea.
    • Pineapple is part of a diet to prevent nausea.
      By: Malyshchyts Viktar
      Pineapple is part of a diet to prevent nausea.
    • Carbonated beverages may help suppress nausea.
      By: Brent Hofacker
      Carbonated beverages may help suppress nausea.
    • Saltines are often eaten to reduce nausea.
      By: Leonid Nyshko
      Saltines are often eaten to reduce nausea.
    • Nausea is an unpleasant experience, but can often be treated safely at home.
      By: Julija Sapic
      Nausea is an unpleasant experience, but can often be treated safely at home.
    • Ice chips is an easy remedy to help with nausea.
      By: Silkstock
      Ice chips is an easy remedy to help with nausea.
    • Charcoal tablets should be taken just after vomiting.
      By: Tom Wang
      Charcoal tablets should be taken just after vomiting.